Plaster-board-handling apparatus



Sept. 16, 1930. o. A. ST. CLAIR Ef AL 1,776,201

PLA-STER `BOARD HANDLING APPARATUS Filed July 3l, 1925 13 Sheets-Sheet 1 -NNQS t! A IIIIIIIII.IILUFWU. l l l l Illlll.

r I., Il L sept 16, 1930. o. A. sT.` CLAIR ET Al. 1,776,201

PLASTER BOARD HANDLING APPARATUS Filed July 3l, 1925 13 Sheets-Sheet 2 fw? WM SePt- 16, 1 930. o. A. sT. CLAIR E1' AL 1,776,201

PLASTER BOARD HANDLING APPARATUS Filed July 3l, 1925 13 Sheets-Sheet 3 SePt- 16, 1930. o. A. sT. CLAIR ET AL 1,776,201

I PLASTER BOARD HANDLING APPARATUS Filed July 31, 1925 13 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept i6, 193 Q. A. sT. CLAIR Er AL Lll PLASTER BOARD HANDLING APPARATUS Filed July 31, 1925 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 /wezgjs @Scar Q .52 (Yam Kga zgey.

sept. 16, 1930.

O. A. ST. CLAIR El AL PLASTER BOARD HANDLING APPARATUS 15 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 31, 1925 Sept. 16, 1930.

C A. sT. CLAIR ErAL PLASTER BOARD HANDLIG APPARATUS Filed July 3l', 1925 15 Sheets-Sheet 7 o. A. ST. cLAlR ET ALL 1,776,201

PLAsTER BOARD HANDLING APPARATUS Sept. 16, 1930.

13 Sheets-Sheet 8 050er@ 525C Filed July 3ll 1925 fb I `swt 16, 1930 o. A. sT. CLAIR ET AL I 1,776,201`

PLASTER BOARD HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Jury 51, 1925 1:5 sheets-sheet 9 o. A. sT. CLAIR Er-AL 1,776,201

PLASTER BOARD HANDLING APPARATUS Sept. 16, 1930.

13 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed July 51, 1925 sept. 16, 1930.

o. A. sT. CLAIR ETAL PLASTER BOARD HANDLING APPARATUS Filed July 5l, 1925 15 Sheets- Sheet 11 mmv sept. 16, 1930. o. A. ST. CLAIR ET Al. 1,7762@ PLAs'rER BOARD HANDLING APPARATUS Filed July 31, 1925 1s sheets-sheet 12 1%@ www Sept. 16, 1930. o. A. sT. CLAIR Er AL y 1,776,201

PLASTER BOARD HANDLING APPARATUS Filed July 5l, 1925 1s sheets-sheet 1s Patented Sept. 16, 1930 i UNITED STATES PATENT or-FrcE OSCAR A. ST. CLAIR AND EDGAR L.

TENNEY, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIGNons, BY

MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T CERTAIN-'FEED PRODUCTS CORPORATION, A. CORPORA- TION 0F MARYLAND PLASTER-BOARD-HANDLING APPARATUS application med :my ai,

This invention relates to apparatus for handling and transferring materials such,L/for example, as freshly formed sections of plaster board. Among other objects, the invention aims'to provide an improved machine of 'this character which yw-ill efficiently and rap-- idly handle the materials for which it is designed with a minimum of manual labor and attention.

The nature of the invention mayb'eireadily understood by reference to one illustrative apparatus embodying the invention and shown in the accompanying drawings.

In'said drawings:

Fig.1 is a plan view of the apparatus, somewhat diagrammatic in character.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the apparatus, also somewhat diagrammatic in character. v

Fig. 3 is a plan View of a portion of the transfer mechanism. J

Fig. 4 is a plan view lof the other portion of the transfer and the adjacent portlon of the distributing mechanism. Fig. 5 is a si e elevation of the transfer.

- Fig. 6 is an end view of the transfer and n associated apparatus viewed from `a plane corresponding to 6-6 of Fig. 5.`

Fig. 7 is a detail view of a portion of the transfer operating mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a detail view taken on line 8--8 l of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 1s a plan view of the hydraulic control.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the hydraulic control. K

Fig. 11 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 11e-11 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 12-12 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 13 is a view of the control mechanism for the feed rolls of the distributing mechamsm. 7

Fig. 14 is an elevation of the clutch, and other mechanism uting mechanism.

Fig. 14A is a sectional view of elevator clutch mechanism in non-operating position.

Fig. 15 .is an elevation of details of the feed for controlling the distrib-4- i925. serial No. 47,9294.

roll operating mechanism viewed from a pon sition at right angles to that of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a plan view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 15 and also details of the elevator control mechanism.

' Fig. 17 is a detail of the cam mechanism for operating the `ratchet rolls of the elevator.

Fig. 18 is a sectional view of the elevator feed roll clutch mechanism.

Fig. 19 is a cross section taken on line 19-19 of Fig. 18.

The illustrative apparatus is arranged, in this instance, for the distribution of materials, plaster board for example, to kilns or drying rooms, or to other apparatus for further treatment.

Plaster board is usually prepared ina continuous web by well known machines adapted for that purpose. The board thus formed then usually requires treatment, by drying for example, to remove excess moisture, andy for this purpose it is usually cut into sheets of various lengths for convenience in handling.

In the present'apparatfus, the plaster board is received insuitable lengths from the plaster board machine and is mechanically delivpable of being handled, at the end of conn veying means represented by the roll conveyor 1. Preferably some means, such as a higher speed conveyor (not shown), is provi ed for separating the various sections of board' by a short distance prior to delivery so that there will be an interval between successive deliveries of boards at the end of the conveyor.

From the conveyor l, the boards 2 are delivered to drying apparatus for driving olf excess moisture, such apparatus being typilied by a suitably inclosed conveying means paratus will dry the boards in the form of a plurality of levels or decks of driven rollers. (see Fig. 2).4 For convenience in arrangement and conservation of space, the drying apparatus is advanta eously located beneath the conveyor of the oard machine and carries the boards in the reverse direction, thatis, in the direction opposite to that in which they are carried by the conveyor of the board machine. The speed of the conveyors of the dryin apparatus is adjusted in accordance with t e capacity of the apparatus, namely, the rate at which the apto the proper condition. To provide a` drying ap aratus of adequate capacity, without objectionably increasing the length of the 'drying apparatus, the conveying means of the apparatus is advantageously made -of a width to carry side by side a plurality of boards. For example, if the conveyors be arranged to carry two boards side by side, the lineal speed of the drying conveyors need be only half that necessary where the conveyors are of a width to carry only a single. board. Thus, still greater capacity for the dryer, or a reduction in its length, or a reduction in the speed of its conveyors, may be` effected by designing the conveyors of the dryer to receive a still greater number of boards side by side and to carry them simultaneously through theV dryer.

To permit the use of a dryer of this character, means typified by an accumulating transfer 5 is provided for arranging the boards sorthat they may be introduced intoV the dryer side by slde.

In the illustrative apparatusthe accumulating transfer 5 comprlses a conveyor table 6 havin conveying means inthe form of driven eed rbllers 7. for receiving the board from the rollers 3 of the board machine conveyor. Suitably spaced between the driven rollers 7 are idle rollers 8 mounted appropriately in the transfer table to support the board as it is received.

Motor-9 supported on base l0 and having speed reducing means `11, represents means for driving feed rolls 7. The motor drives counter-shaft 12 through chain 13 and suitable sprockets, from which shaft the roller drive 15 is driven by chain 14. The roller shafts 18, 19 and 20 are driven from shaft 15 through bevel gears 16, 17 (Fig. 3) and chains 21 and 22 connecting shafts 19 and 2O with shaft 18.

The transfer table isA made of a width to hold a plurality. (in this instance two) of boards side by side. They are shifted laterally by eriodically operating shifting means in the orm of short roflls 26 and 27 located between rolls 7 and 8 and su ported bybrackets 25with their axes at rig t angles thereto. Such rolls are brought into operative position to shift a board laterally, in this instance, by periodically raising them slightly above ,the surface of rolls 7 and 8, and for this purpose such rolls are supported ona vertically movable frame 23 slidably mounted between guides 24 in frame of transfer table 6 (Figs. 7 and 8,). f Rolls 26 are driven from shaft 12 by sprocket shaft 31, and chains- 30, 33 and 34 which runV over appropriate sprockets. Shaft 3l is supported in appropriate'brackets 32. Rolls 27 in this instance are simply idle supporting rolls. The proportion of driven and idle rolls obviously may be changed to suit the requirements of the product. In the present arrangement the rolls 26 are arranged to be driven only periodically when their supporting frame is raised to operative or shifting position, means for this purpose being represented by clutch 28 having a driving portion 29 and longitudinally slidable driven portion 30, (Fig. 7). The clutch is engaged and released at appropriate times by yo e member 37 slidably mounted upon a square shaft 38 and actuated-by link 36 connected at.its other end with a rock arm 39". In the 1presentarrangement, the rock arm 39b is osci lated by control lever 3lb through rock arm 39 secured at one end to 'rock shaft 40 and at its`other end to the link 35 which connects it with the pivoted level' 31h. Thus oscillation of the lever 31b engages or releases the clutch to rotate the cross rolls 26.

The shifting conveyor fr-ame 23 is carried by rocking arms 41 (having supporting antifriction rollers 41") typifyihg means for raising and lowering the shifting conveyor at appropriate intervals. The frame- 23 is slightly over-balanced, so that it tends to remain in raised position, by Weights 42 connected with the rocking arms 41 (Figs. 5 and 8). The rocking arms 41 are, in this instance, in the form of bell cranks, the opposite arms of which are connected with link 35, whereby the shifting-conveyor rolls may be raised simultaneously with their actuation by their driving means, upon the operation ofcontrol lever 31E-thus conveniently colordina-ting the roller drive control with the vertical movements of the roller frame.

Thus, after a board is received upon the transfer table, it is shifted laterally (upon movement of lever 31h) by the cross rolls 26, its lateral movement beilgarrested by lowering of the rolls. By appropriate design, as many boards may be accumulated laterally or sideby side as the size of the transfer table will permit. The last board of each accumu- (Fig. '5)

lation need not be shifted but may remain the transfer table.

of any boards from the transfer table. The namely, one for raising the distributingdestop is lowered into inoperative position by an operating lever 47 (conveniently adjacent the control lever 31") connected to rock shaft 45 to which is also connected a rock arm 46' (Figs. and 11) which reciprocates the stop operating lever 44. The longitudinal movement of the stop operating lever 44, in this instance, simply swings the links 44a, which support thestop 43, into an inclined position thus lowering the stop below the surface o i After, the boards have been discharged from-the transfer, the stop is again raised by throwing lever 47 in the opposite direction.

Depending upon the arrangement and character of the drying or other apparatus the boards may be delivered from the transfer either directly to the drying apparatus or to distributing means which deliver the boards t-o the drying apparatus. In the present machine the boards are delivered to a distributtrol valve 49 serves l ample, in the present paratus comprises a ing apparatus in the form of a vertically operating elevator 48 (the dryer conveyors eing vertically spaced) which receives the f boards and delivers them to the drying apparatus. The first board of each pair is, in this instance, delivered from the transfer to the distributing apparatus as soon-as it'has been shifted laterally without l waiting until the succeeding board is fully on the transfer' (the distributing elevator is of course, in position to receive the board). 'Where more than two boards are placed side by side, the shifting and deliveringthereof to the distributing device may be effected by appropriate design of the transfer operating mechanism.

Because the travel of the boards in the dryer is in a direction opposite to that in which they travel to the distributing device, the ,latter also represents, in this instance, means forreversing the travel of the boards. In general, the distributing device is designed to make the character of distribution required by the apparatus vto which it is delivered. For eX-f instance, the drying applurality of superposed conveyorswhich involve a vertical distribution of the product. Means for effecting such vertical distribution is typified by the vertically operating hydraulic elevator 48a which supports and vertically moves the distributing device 48. In the present arrangement, the elevating mechanism is carried in a pit 50". Control means in the form of a hydraulic conto actuate such mechanism to raise and lower the distributing device 48 and to stop it at proper levels to discharge the productinto the drying apparatus. Hydraulic pressure for the elevator may be supplied by any appropriate apparatus, typical apparatus for this purpose being illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 1.

, The valve 49 is controlled by lever 50 having, in this instance, three controlI positions,

vice, another for stopping it at any desired position, and the third for tributin device (Fig. 10).

In adition to manual control means, the distributing elevator matic control means, in this instance acting 'in conjunction with the control lever 50. Such means automatically lowers the distributingelevator to, and arrests it at, the( proper level for discharging Athe product. In

the illustrative apparatus, is also conveniently provided with selecting means for controlling the sequence in which the product is delivered to the yvarious levels of conveyors of the drying apparatus, such sequence, in this instance, being successively lowering the dis-I the control means.

is provided with autofrom the top to the bottom of the conveyor and thence again to the top.

Such automatic control means is typifiedI in the present apparatus, by control stops 61 and 61.a projecting from the frame of the distibuting device 48 (Fig. 11) and co-operating control levers or cams 55 and 55, the former designed to be selectively operated acvarious levels of the drying apparatus. cam or lever 62 is provided for each of the levels (in this instance four) of the drying apparatus. Cams 62, which in this instance are initially operated upon the lowering of the elevator, are suitably pivoted by shafts 63arranged appropriately relative to each of the levels of the conveyors of the drying apparatus. One end of each cam 62, in this instance the upper end, (as shown in Fig. 12) lies in the path of stop 61 on the elevator (see Figs. 11 and 12) and4 yengagement therewith serves to rotate cam 62 and shaft 63 to raise arm 64. Arm 64 has a yoke shaped terminal which enbraces control rod 66 andraises the same through an appropriate collar 65 (see Figs. 11 and 12). The supports for shaft 63 are arranged to permit cam 62 to be moved to the right (as shown in Fig. 12) in which position it is out of the path ,of sto s 61 and 61a and is not actuated thereby. ppropriate devices, hereinafter described, are provided for holding certain cams 62 in inoperative position, thus only the particular cam 62 which projects (as shown in Fig. 12) beyond its inoperative position, lies in the path of the operating stop 61.

Rod 66 is operatively connected with the hydraulic valve 49 through bell crank lever 67 (Fig. 5) and rod 68, the end of the latter being connected with rock arm 68a carrying a trip stop in the form of an adjustable set screw 7 0, which trips lever stop osition. The tripping mechanism is, in thlsinstance, typified by latch 51, pivoted at 52 engaging a stud 53 projecting from the lower end of lever 50. The latch 51 serves lmomentarily 'to retain -the operating lever m cordingto the sequence of distribution to the 50 to return it to izo tion it is retained by th A provided on rock operator when it is desired to Iowerlthe elevator. Upon movement of rod 68 (to the left as shown in Fig. 10) the tripping screw 70, raising latch 51, permits the spring 71 to restore lever 5 to stop position, in which posie stop surface 69 arm 68a and whichhas been meanwhile, is engaged thereby. (See Fig.

moved, in the stud 53 and 10.)

As soon as the elevator is stopped at the proper level, automatic means actuate the distributing device to discharge the product. Such product is received by conveyors, in the form of rolls 57 supported 1n conveyor frames 56 slightly inclined away from the elevator. These conveyors lead to the appropriate conveyor in the drying apparatus. Certain rolls 58 of the conveyors are driven by belts 60 from driven shaft 20 (Fig. 5).

The distributor discharging means are typified by driven rolls 92 supported in the distributor frame and product in the appropriate d1rect1on,. depending upon the relative location .of the drying apparatus. In the .present apparatus, these rolls are arranged to feed the product in the direction from which it was received, thereby reversing its travel. For different relative locations of the dryer suitable changes in the arrangement of the conveyor of the distributing device may be made.

Power to drive rolls 92, is provided by motor 87 through gear 86*l on shaft 86 supported in suitable brackets below the frame of the distributing device. (Figs. 4 and 15.) The shaft 86 delivers power to sprocket 87n from which it is transferred by chain 88 to sprocket 89, in this instance on shaft of one of the rolls 92. From such shaft power is distributed to other rolls 92 desired to be driven by chain 90 which runs over sprockets 91 on the various roll shafts. The number of driven rolls 92 may be varied simply by adding or removing sprockets 91, the other rolls being simply idle supporting rolls.

The roll drive in the present machine, is only in bne direction, the rolls being provided with clutches in the form of co-operating ratchet dog and ratchet plate 101 and 102, which permit rolls 92 to be rotated in the reverse direction, independently of their drive. Thus, the rolls are free to rotate when the board is fed thereon from the transfer mechanism. (lo-operating with the roll clutches are means which periodically engage the roll clutches for driving the rolls at the desired times to discharge the product from the distributing elevator, such means being typified in the clutch operating rods 100 which may be actuated to move ratchet dog 101 into driving engagement with ratchet 102, the clutch being normally held released by spring 103 (Fig. 18). Pivoted cams 98 represent means for actuating the clutch rods 100, such cams,

'conveyor.` Such means are operatin this instance, being simultaneously is operated by ed by connecting rod 97 which means in the form lof a pivoted-trip 72 (Fig.

' 14) carried on the frame of the distributing into the path of the d evlce and which engages one of a series of cams 55 located in the path of trip 72 at the appropriate level.. The upward movement thus given to trip 72 is communicated, in this instance, to slide 95 by link 75y connected at one end to rocking arm 74 on the trip rock shaft 73, and at lits other end to a rock arm 76, the latter having a pin 93 operating in a slot in bracket 94 on slide 95. -f

The cams 55 are selectively placed in the path of trip 72 by periodic rotation of shaft 54 on which said cams are mounted in angularly spaced relation (see Fig. 4). The angular arrangement of therespective cams on so i shaft 54 conveniently corresponds with the operation of thecams 62, that is, cams 62 and' 55 at a given level are arranged in operative relation to operate at the same cycle of movement ofthe elevator. In the present machine, a pair of cams 55 is provided for each thus requiring only half a complete revolution of shaft 54 to bring another cam, at a given level, into operative position.

The elevator having been brought to rest at a given yvel through the co-operation of stop 61 and the operative cam 62, the raising of trip 72, (which advantageously occurs substantially simultaneously with the stopping of the elevator at that level) engages the roll drive, whereupon the rolls 92 feed the product from the distributor and delivers the same to the receiving rolls 56and 57 of the driven dryer conveyor.

Appropriate means (either manually or automatically operated) are provided for arresting the rotation of rolls 92 and returning the distributor to receiving position upon the delivery of the product therefrom to a dryer typified herein by the lever 104 which, through engagement with pin 106 on link 75 serves to move slide 95 in thereverse direction, thus releasing the roll clutches, and restores trip72 to its normal or substantially horizontal position. The lever 104 is i'n this instance manually operated by a connecting element such as rod 105 (Fig. 2) which extends to a point where it may conveniently be operated by the machine operator.' In t e present4 ma-- chine, the operator stands onplatform 111 where he is in convenient reach of all of the controls. The outward or downward moveof lever 104, serves,

level,

paratus, to move the precedingactive cam 62 intoinoperative position-by sliding shaft 63 longitudinally until latch 107 snaps over shaft collar 108, thereby holding this cam in inoperative position, out of the path of stop 61 on the next'descent of the elevator. The foregoing movement of cam 62, beyond control of stop 61, permits rod 66 (previously held in raised' position by depression of cam 62 by stop 61) to fall under its weight and that of associated parts. The reverse movement of rod 66 moves rod` 68 to the right (as shown in Fig.v thus raising the stop surface 69 until it clears stud 53, whereupon lever 50 is moved to raise position by spring 71 andthe elevator rises. Y Y

The adjustment'or setting-of cams 5(5vis effected, in this instance, by the elevator upon its upward movement, means for this purpose being typified in the co-acting stop 61 on the elevator .and the pawl 55a which is raised thereby to rotate shaft 54,- (Fig. 11).

,Pawl 55B is pivoted about shaft 54c and carries a ratchet spring 55" engaging a ratchet 55c on shaft 54c to rotate the latter and,

through meshing spiral gears 54", to rotate level of the dryer.

' proper cam in operative position.

shaft 54 a` portion of a turn. yThe movement of pawl 55a. under the action of stud 61 is illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 11. This fractional rotation of shaft 54 brings the next cam 55 in sequence into operative position relative to trip 72.

The same rotation of shaft 54 is employed in the illustrative apparatus to set cams 54, one of these being provided for each Such cams are secured to shaft 54 in angularly spaced relation and adjusted to cooperate with other control mechanisms which are actuated at a given level. Cams 54 (also being provided in pairs in thisinstance), serve to release cams 62 upon successive operations to place the This is effected by raising latch 107, through engage-V ment of a cam 54a with the releasing button 109, (Fig. 12),` to` release shaft 63 which, under the pressure of its spring, moves the cam 62 into operative position. above, the particular cam thus released is that for the next stage or level to receive the product from the distributing elevator. Thus, when the elevator rises,^the appropriate cam 54a sets the correspondingcam 62 to stop the elevator at the proper level on its next downward movement.

When the elevator has completed one series of distributions to all conveyors from the top to bottom, its return movement again vsets the uppermost cam 62 to` stop the elevator at the upper dryer level.

i Arbitraryvariation of the sequence of distributions by the elevator may be effected by manual rotation of shaft 54 through shaft 54. For this purpose a hand lever "110 is As stated provided on shaft 54 and located for convenient manipulation by the operator.

If desired, the driving mechanism for the distributor rolls 92 may be provided with a master clutch which releases the driving.

sprockets 87, 89 and 91 and their co-oper` ating chains 88 and 90,v (whenever the individual clutches on the rolls 92 arereleased.

For .this purpose a clutch typied by clutchl plate 83, pawls 82 andv ratchet 85, is provided for shaft 86. Clutchplate 83 is se.

cured to sleeve 83a free on shaft 86 and carries spring 84h which normally holds pawls 82 in engagement with ratchet-85 (Figs. 14

and 15). Drive sprocket 87a is, in this 1n'' stance, secured to and driven by, clutch sleeve 83". The clutch maybe d1sengaged by a pair of clutch pigs 81, which hold the pawls out of engagement with the ratchet.' Such pins are normallyheld in engagement with the pawls by spring 84a. The clutchv is engaged, by Withdrawal of pins 81, by devices controlled by the trip link 75. Such devices are represented herein by shaft 77, connected with the rock arm 76, and carrying a side face rocking cam 78 which engages roller 79 on clutch pin slide 80 to move pins 81 out to release the pawls (Figs. 14 and 15). Such operation takes vplace simultaneously with the engagement of the individual clutches. for rolls 92. I

Obviously the present invention is not restricted to the details of the illustrative apparatus herein shown and described. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly, since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and sub-combinar- 1. In apparatus for handling plaster board sections, the combination comprising a 4con-I veyor,y an elevator, andmeans for transferf ring the sections from the conveyor and delivering them to the elevator in selective angular directions in a horizontal plane.

als

,los

` 2.` In apparatus for handling plaster board sections the combination comprising an elevator for receiving board sections, un-

loading ymeans for transferring the sections from the elevator to a drying-room, means for actuating the unloading means, and means for automatically operating the actuating means When the'elevator is at rest.

board comprising in combination a conveyor supplying boards, from .board forming means, drying apparatus having conveying means travelling in a direction opposite that of said conveyor, and means for changing 4. In apparatus for handling plaster board sections, the combination comprising a coni 12o` 3. In apparatus for handling plaster veyor, a transfer adapted to receive the plaster board sections, from said conveyor, an

' receiving means comprising in combination decks at different levels, an elevator, means adjacent the decks and adapted to cooperate with the elevator for automatically stopping the descent of the elevator at a predetermined deck, conveying rolls on said elevator and automatic means to actuate said rolls periodically with the stopping of the elevator.

7. The method of transferring freshly made plaster board sections from a forming machine to a drying apparatus, consisting in feeding plaster board sections lengthwise and crosswise in one plane and movingthe sections to another plane from whence same are delivered to a dryer.

8. The method of handling plaster. board sections which consists of feeding a section, feeding another section in the same plane and parallel to the first mentioned section, lowering the two sections to a lower plane and reversing their direction of travel.

9. The method of feeding plaster board sections to a transfer, movingthe sections laterally' on the .transfer to arrange same in a row, feeding the rowy of sections from vthe transfer to an elevator, actuating the elevator to a predetermined plane and feeding the plaster board section therefrom.

'10. The method of feedinga plaster b'oard section to a transfer, feeding another plaster board section to the ransfer, feeding both plaster board sections at the same time to an elevator, lowering the elevator -to a lower plane and feeding the plaster board sections therefrom to a dryer.

11. In an apparatus for handling board sections, the combination comprising an accumulating mechanism and a vertically movable receiver, said mechanism being provided with means for arranging the sections in a row and feeding same to said receiver.

12. The method of feeding material to a' transfer, moving the material in selective angular directions on the transfer, feeding the material to an elevator, and actuating the elevator to another level in a path perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the transfer.

13. In .apparatus for handling plaster .transfer and an elevator, and means for automatically delivering sections accumulated on the transfer from the elevator to predetermined levels of the dryer.

15. In a plaster board handling apparatus, in combination, an accumulator arranged to accommodate board sections at various levels, a dryer and an elevator, means for transferring accumulated boards from the accumulator to the elevator, means for automatically delivering board sections from the elevator to successive levels of the dryer and means for automatically returning the eleva` tor to the level of the accumulator preparatory to a repetition of the cycle.

In testimony whereof we affix -our signatures.

OSCAR A. ST. CLAIR. EDGAR L. TENNEY. 

